Knitting method and machine



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KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1942 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,411,422 KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Ivan W. Grothey, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 29, 1942, Serial No. 460,048

l 38 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a knitting method and machine, and particularly to the construction and operation of a circular knitting machine having independent needles.

It is one object of the present invention to provide means for wrapping needles for the production of embroidery designs involving shogging of wrap yarn carriers through substantial angular ranges with respect to the needles. In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide independent shogging movements for a plurality of groups of wrap yarn carrying fingers. In the following description, the machine is disclosed as comprising two such groups arranged to be independently shogged, but it will be obvious that the principles of the invention are readily applicable to the shogging of additional groups of wrap yarn carriers.

A further object of the invention is concerned with the selection of yarn carriers to provide color changes in wrap patterns.

The selection mechanism is particularly designed to effect selection of at least some of the wrap yarn carriers or lingers in such fashion that the operating movements of the selecting means take place in timed relationship with the wrap yarn fingers rather than at some definite phas of rotation of the needle cylinder even though the pattern devices comprising, for example, a trick wheel or drum, may have movement imparted to it at a particular phase of the cycle of the needle cylinder, at which time it may directly effect other selection, for example of needles.

The invention has as still another object the provision of means for properly placing wrap yarns in position to be engaged by needles for the purpose of wrapping them. While the placing means referred to is of more general application, it is particularly desirable in a machine embodying other features of the present invention in order to insure the proper seizure of wrap yarns by the needles in knitting involving extreme shogging movements of the type indicated above.

A further object of the invention is the provisions of means for effecting selection of needles for wrapping and also for deflection for the purpose of reverse plating, as specifically disclosed, or for some other purpose, as for the production of patterns by the creation of selective floats. As will be evident from the following description, the mechanism is greatly simplified in spite of the performance of very elaborate functions by an interrelationship of the selections of needles for wrapping and for reverse plating or the like.

As will be evident hereafter, the interrelated controls for the production of wrapping and reverse plating impose some minor limitations upon the freedom of production of certain elaborate patterns, and it is a further object of the invention to provide a simple controlling arrangement for overcoming such limitation.

While various features of the invention are not limited thereto, it is a further object of the invention to provide for wrapping, and also for reverse plating, in a machine of automatic rib top type provided with dial needles to cooperate with cylinder needles. As will be obvious hereafter, various devices functioning in connection with the production of reverse plating have additional functions in connection with the matter of knitting by dial needles, these dual functions of certain elements resulting in a simplification to a substantial degree of mechanism capable of performing satisfactorily the various separate functions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for backing up cylinder needles during rib knitting to impart to them a substantial rigidity against inward deflection of their upper ends under the tension of stitches. The invention contemplates the simple effecting of this result by special manipulation of cleaning jacks of a type heretofore used.

. Another object of the invention is the provision of means for lining up the hooks of the needles during the transfer of loops from dial needles to cylinder needles. Heretofore this has been accomplished by engagement of a cam with the hooks of needles in such fashion as to create a substantial possibility of damage to the needles. In accordance with the present invention, the alignment of the needles is effected by elements which are conventionally those utilized for the deflection of the needles in the production of reverse plating.

The invention comprises additionally the various manipulative methods involved in accomplishing the above objects.

The foregoing objects of the invention, together with other objects, particularly relating to details of construction and operation, will become clear from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the portion of a knitting machine in the vicinity of the upper end of the needle cylinder, the dial, and the wrap yarn carrying and shogging means, illustrating certain features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an interior diagrammatic development of the cams for controlling the needles and wrap fingers and their associated parts, together with certain additional elements such as yarn feeding elements and wrap yarn. controlling devices;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, vertical sections taken through one side of the needle cylinder and its adjacent associated parts at the Figure 3 is an elevation of the same, partially in section; 1

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the relationship between a selecting trick wheel and a selecting device for controlling the shogging of the wrap finger carriers;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, with a cover plate partially broken away, looking toward the right in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective View showing one arrangement of wrap yarn carriers and their supporting and selecting elements;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the controlling means for one of the wrap finger selecting cams;

Figure 13 is a perspectiveview showing another of the wrap yarn selecting cams and its operating devices; I

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional View through certain of the elements of Figure 13;

Figure 15' is a fragmentary plan'view', partl in section, showing in particular the mechanism for effectingselection of the wrap fingers;

Figure 16 is an elevation of certain elements of the machine concerned with the selection of the wrap fingers, the view being taken looking toward the left at the subject-matter of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary view of certain elements of the machine looking toward the right at the subject-matter of Figure 15;

Figures 18, 19 and 20 are perspective views showing successive stages of the cooperation of a yarn placer with a wrap ya-rn carrying finger;

Figure 21 is a View of the yarn placing elements of Figures 18, 19 and 20; looking in the direction of the axis of movement thereof;

Figure-22 is a sectiontaken' on the plane indicated at 22-22 in Figure 21;

Figure 23 is" a perspective View showing in particular the devices whereby cylinder needles selectively upon the butts of presser jacks;

' Figure 26 is a diagram illustrating in particular the fashion in which patterns may be formed by the shoggingactions in the machine;

Figure 27 is a diagram illustrating the fashion in which selection of needles for wrapping and reverse plating is effected, as well as the fashion in which an auxiliary device operates to secure certain selections under conditions wherein the primary selecting means is insufiicient for the purpose;

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modification corresponding generally to that of Figure 11, but sufiicing for simpler control of the wrap fingers in certain instances;

Figure 29 is a perspective view somewhat similar to Figure 13 but showing the control of a cam of the modification of Figure 28; and

Figures 30, 31 and 32 are diagrammatic views of portions of stockings made by the use of the mechanism illustrated and showing the types of patterns producible thereby.

Th invention is illustrated as applied to a circular knitting machine for knitting a corn- 4 plete stocking including a rib top, the machine illustrated being basically of the Scott and. Williams rotary cylinder type. The rotary needle cylinder of substantially conventional form and mounting is illustrated at 2 and is provided with. axially extending slots within which needles and various elements'associated therewith are slidably mounted. These elements, as will appear most clearly from Figures 3 to 6, include pattern jacks 4 provided at their lower ends with upper and lower steps or shoulders, respectively indicated at 6 and 8, there being a butt '7 provided above the upper step 6. Each jack is provided with a series of selectively removable butts Ii and carries intermediate and upper butts l2 and 13, respectively.

Above each pattern jack there is located a cleaning jack i4 provided with a butt it located between the upper end of the corresponding pattern jack and the butt 29 of a needle jack It, which is located outside the cleaning jack. In each slot above the intermediate or needle jack l8 and also outside the cleaning jack it, there is a needle 22, these needles being provided with conventional long and short butts or with other suitable arrangement ofibutts in the event that special split foot or other products are to be provided, in which case, for example, suture needles may be provided-with intermediate length butts. Outside of the needles there are located presser jacks 2'5 provided with butts 26 of four different lengths and arranged to be acted upon by pressers 28' slidably mounted for radial movement in the lower part of the sinker dial 29.

Sinker-s are supported by the sinker dial 29 and the inside sinker ring 33 (see Fig. 1), being provided with butts 32 in the usual fashion and arranged to be acted upon by cams carried. by the sinker cap 3| For the formation of rib tops, thereis provided a needle dial 3 1 mounted upon the lower end of a vertical shaft 36", which is arranged to be rotated by suitable ge'aringin conventional fashion at the same speed and indefinite relation to the needle cylinder, this shaft being vertically movable as usual to adjust the relationship between the needle dial and the. needle cylinder. Twopartdial needles of conventional form, indicated at. 38 and ill, are mounted in slots in the dial and areprovided withibutts to be acted upon by conventional cams carried by the dial cap 42, which is: secured to a stationary sleeve 34. From the standpoint of its functions, the dial mechanism is substantially the same as that disclosed in Scott Patent 1,641,101, and the sinkers are of the types and arranged, as set forth therein to cooperate in the formation of the stockingtop.

The stationary s-leevei lextends upwardly through a second stationary sleeve it which, at its lower end, is provided with disc @3- serving as an inner abutment for certain wrap fingers which will be referred to hereafter. A rotating sleeve 46 mounted in a bearing at il has secured to it a plate 58 which is arranged to carry the bobbins and tension and take-up mechanisms supplying wrap yarn to the wrap fingers through individual tubes 52. See, for example, my Patent 2,053,192, dated September 1, 1936.

A. stationarycasting 54-, secured to the usual tilting head which supports the dial mechanism and; in the present machine, the wrap yarn supplying devices, provides an inwardly directed rings'being provided with gear teeth. 62 and 64 and being held assembled upon the flange of the casting 54 by means of clip members 56. The rings 58 and 66 are provided with perforations, as indicated in Figures 1, 11 and 12 for the reception of screws adapted to hold within the rings brackets 66 and 14. The bracket 66 is arranged to carry upon a pivot pin 68 a pair of wrap fingers 19 the lower ends of which are urged inwardly by springs 12 into contact with the disc 48 previously referred to. The bracket 14' similarly carries upon a pin 16 wrap fingers 18, also urged inwardly by springs indicated at 86. These wrap fingers are provided with yarn eyes 82 and 84, the latter serving for the guidance of the yarns in the proper paths for presentation to abutments and selected needles, as will be hereafter described. As will be more apparent later, there are in this modification four types of wrap fingers provided with butts at four different levels, i. e., wrap fingers arranged to be mounted on the brackets secured to the upper ring 58 and provided with butts at two different levels, and wrap fingers adapted to be secured to the lower ring 68 and also provided with butts arranged at two other levels with space between the pairs of levels for the purpose hereafter described. The brackets for the wrap fingers may be secured in various suitable positions on the rings 58 and 68, depending upon the type of pattern which is to be produced.

The rings 58 and 6B are driven to partake of the general rotation of the needle cylinder and about the same axis, but are adapted to be advanced or retarded relatively thereto to provide shogging of the wrap fingers relative to the needles. To secure this result, there is provided the mechanism particularly shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, which show the upper and lower gears 62 and 64 respectively meshing with pinions 83 and 85. These pinions respectively mesh with idler gears 86 and 88, which mesh with a pinion 90 carried by the lower end of a shaft 92, the upper end of which carries the pinion 84 meshing with a large gear 95 secured to the bobbin plate 58 and driven in usual fashion by a pinion 91 (Figure 1) secured to the upper end of a jointed telescoping shaft as shown in Page et al. Patent 1,906,204 or mounted equivalently to permit tilting of the wrap head. In order to maintain the idler gear 86 in mesh with the pinion 96, it is journalled upon a pin I82 extending through slots I64 in the supporting casting and mounted in the corresponding ends of links 98 and H16, which are mounted concentrically with the shaft 92. Similarly, links I66 and I68 carry a pin III) at a fixed radial distancefrom the axis of shaft 82, on which pin there is mountedthe idler 88, the pin [I6 also passing through suitable slots I I2 in the casting.

The pinion 83 is in turn kept constantly in mesh with idler 86 by means of a pair of links H4 and H6, which maintain at a constant distance apart the pin I62 and the pin IIBupon which pinion 83 is mounted. Similarly, links I28 and I22 maintain constant the spacing between pin H8 and pin I24 upon which the pinion 85 is mounted.

The pin H8 is maintained at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation of the needle cylinder and the gear 96 by reason of its being guided in arcuate slots I26 in the casting which are concentric with the cylinder axis. Upper and lower. links I36 join the pin I I8 to a yoke I32, which is secured to a shaft I34, mounted in the supporting casting, which shaft. is connected through bevel gear I 36 to a horizontal shaft I 38 carrying an actuating arm I 48. In similar fashion, the pin I24 is connected by links I42 to a yoke E44 secured to pin I46, which is connected through bevel gearing I48 to the shaft I58 carrying horizontally extending arm I52. Springs I54 and I55 are connected between the upper ends and between the lower ends of the yokes, respectively, and are arranged to urge them toward each other.

Control of the arms I48 and I52 is efiected through the medium of push rods I56 and I58 adjustably pivoted to these arms and preferably threaded at their lower ends, which extend slidably downwardly into tubes I68 and I62. On the threaded portions of the push rods I56 and I58 are located adjustable nuts I64 and IE6, limiting the telescoping action between the rods and the tubes. This arrangement is provided since the entire assembly of the dial and its associated parts and the wrapping mechanism-including the bobbin plate, the wrap finger-carriers and the actuating gear mechanism just described are mounted in conventional fashion as indicated above, to tilt upwardly away from the needle cylinder to afford access thereto. When such tilting takes place, the push rods I56 and I58 may withdraw partially from the tubes I68 and I26, while at the same time the actuating connection is automatically restored when the tilted parts are brought to normal operating position.

The tubes I68 and I62 are pivoted to levers I68 and I16, respectively, mounted upon a fixed pin I12 and provided at their forward ends with rounded portions indicated at I14 on which are mounted pin followers I16 and I11, respectively, arranged to be engaged by pins I18 selectively carried in holes I in a disc I82. Cover plates I84 are adapted to be clamped over the pins I'i8 located in the disc I82 to hold the pins in position and also to provide races within which the followers I16 and I11 may move during operation. As indicated in the drawings, the disc I82 is provided with a large number of holes in which the pins may be selectively located, depending sequently the holes need not be specifically laid out with definite circumferential indexing. Alternatively to this arrangement, there may be provided radial slots in which are located butt carrying elements outlining, like the pins, cam surfaces to be followed by the ends of levers I68 and I16.

The disc I82 is carried by a shaft I86 mounted in a bracket I63 secured to the machine frame, which shaft carries the pinion I88 the teeth of which are arranged to mesh with teeth I90 produced by slotting the lower disc I92 of a pattern drum I94, which is of conventional type. This pattern drum or trick wheel is provided with axially extending slots in which are adapted to be arranged pattern elements I 96 containing selectively arranged butts I98 and held in position by one or more spring bends 266. The lower disc I92 is provided with ratchet teeth 282, whereby the drum may he stepped about to control, in the present machine, both the selection of wrap fingers and needles for wrapping and the production of reverse plating.

The selection of wrap fingers is effected by the mechanism disclosed particularly in Figures 11 to 17. Follower levers 284 and 266, pivoted. at 288, and forming two out of a large group of amines levers which will'be hereafter. referredi to, are

arranged to be engage'd by butts I 93 of difierent lengths at corresponding levels on pattern ele ments I96 and areconnectedlby'links 2H] and 2 M to arms oarried by nested'shaft'st 216 and 220 which, in turn, at' the op'p'osite side -of the machine carry arms 222 and 23U; The arm 222 is provided with an adjustable screw 224' which is arranged to engage a member 225 carried'byth'e lower end of a push rod 228. The lever 230P=isprovided with a pivoted pin 23! through which extends a push rod 232"which; atlits'upp'eriend is pivoted-to a lever 234*mounte'd-1on azpin 236'. A spring 233"react s between'.the pivoted pin 231' and collar' 235 on rod 232 to effect strong but yielding upward thrust of th'e lever'2355upon rod 232, the expansion of spring? 233 being limited by a stop collar 231. Aspring"239' urges lever 23!] downwardly andthebutt I98 acts to move the push rod 232 upwardl against: the action ofthis spring; In the case oflevert2225astrong spring 238 capable of overcoming spring: 256; later'described, urges lever222 an'd r'od'228 upwardly as permitted by the absence of a buttior the'presence of a' butt of reduced height'in' the'trick wheel. Itwill thus beseen that'a longer buttcontrolling rod 232 serves to move it upwardlywhile a-long'er butt controlling rod'zzs permits itito move downwardly.

The mechanismcontrolled by thep'ush' rod 223' is illustratedin detaiI inFigure 12'. The upper end of the push rod' engages the lowersi-de of an ear 246 extending from a sliding sleeve 2 32 mounted upon anupright fixed rodflil. The sleeve 242 carries a plate-2M provided with a cam edge 2'46 arrangedito engage tho'se butts of the wrap fingers which move" at the'l-ower pair of levels mentioned above. A guide rod 25D carried by a suitable fixed bracket is embraced by an opening inan'arm 252 carried b'y plate 244 to prevent rotationof'the sleeve242" and its assern bly about the pin 245 as verticaLsliding takes place. The sliding assembly is-normallyurg'ed 8* purpose o'f removing the of any wrapfingers which mayrbeprojected:

A pin'i il, provided with a headElS; is slidably mounted in the arm 26'! and is ulg'ed'upwardly by a spring ZTBinto-contact with the end of "lever 23A. The lower end of the pin 21'! extends into a bore 286 provided'in" a plunger 28!, which is in turn guided in a bore" 283 in the bracket 265." The plunger 28! is urged: upwardly by a spring'282 stronger than the spring 219, the upward move-' ment of the'plu'ng'erbeing limited bynut 2 84 carried by a threaded extension or" the plunger and arranged to abut the lower side orthezbracket 265: The spring 212:" is intermediate in strength between thespr-ingS ZB-Z and 222' to effect the-con'- trol operations hereafter" described.

The present machine contemplates'the shogging' of the wap fingers thrcughvery substandownwardly by a spring 256, weaker'inits eife'ct than spring 238;which exerts a tension between the assembly and the bracket 258 which supports the lower end of the'rod 2 The mechanism controlled by the rod 2321s illustrated primarily in Figures 13 and 141 A ventical'fixed rod 262 serves as'a guide for a' slide" 2t] urged upw'ardly by a light spring 2t2 a'ndbarrying a cam 263providedwith an edge'portion zee'adapted to engagethe butts of thewrap fin"-- gers located at'th e levels ofthe'upper pair. A fixed guide rod 2'56. pas-sing throughan opening in the assembly serves to prevent its" rotation about the axis of the rod 222)." The slide'Z'ri' l is pre-videdwith an ear 25?, carrying an extension 258,- which is arranged. to engage selectively; discs 26S and 210 formed on-anupright post. 2l"i; secured to a lever 2'52, whichis mounted on anextension ofthe-fixed post 289 below a'bracket 265, fixedly'secur'ed to thepo-st. The lever 212- is urged in a-countertzlockwise direction as viewed from above by a spring '2l3"and. carries a'pin- 2M projecting inwardly acrossthe circle of'needles in a position" to be' engaged by the'portions' of: wrap fingers below" their pivots when their. lower ends are projectedoutwardly; (See themodification of this apparatus illustrated in Figure 29). A wire 215' extends'through'yth'erlever2l2 and is provided with a. head whereby: through movement of the post 216 lever2'l2maysb rocked in a clockwise directionas viewed in p'lanfor the tial anglesrelativeto the needle'cylinder and in the production of'patterns in which such considerable ranges of shogging are involved, it sometimeshappens that the wrap'yarn' may ex tendi throug'h a considerable circumferential extent offthe soaking. between a point where it was previously knit to apoint'where it is next to be taken'byi the needles; In the wrapping operation, therefore; the yarn may occupy a chord with respect to therneedle circle subtending such a circumferential angle that the needles in rising at the wrap point may move upwardly behind, rath'er'than in? advance of, the portion of the wrapyarnextending across the needle circle so as'to miss-it; this'being true; of course, only when the wrap fihger'as it moves the yarn for new engagement by the" needles, is substantially in advance, inthe direct'ion'ofrotation, of the needle which last knit the yarn. To correct this condition, there is provided a yarn placing device particularly illustrated in Figures 18130 22. Such adevice maybe locat'ed'at both Wrap points in the machine or only one if the patterns which are! produced are such that'the chordal path of the wrap yarn which would cause the needles to miss it would occur only at the one wrap'point. In the present machine, the placer is illustrated as as'sociated with the first wrap point or station only, there being contemplated a set-up of the patterning mechanism which would avoid its necessity at the secondstation. For 'the' majority of patterns, in fact, this-is not a restriction, since the operations may be so controlled that the undesirable chordal condition of the wrapyarnoccursat only one station.

' Abutments ZS-Zand 29 i of usual'type; are pro- Vided in the form of members extending inwardly across th needle circle. The abutment 292carries the wrap horn 239; which extends approximately to the circumferential position of the abutment 294. The support 291,- which also ex-' tends-over the needle circle, carries the usual wrap guard or horn 3Bl- (see Figure 2), extendiri'g 'pastboth abutment's in theusual fashion. The -abutment 29ilcarries the-horn 296; See, for example, my Patent 2,263,492, dated November 1851941, and the patent to Page et a1; 1,906,204, dated-'April 25; l933,'as illustrative of an equiv alent arrangement of guards and wrap horns for carrying out inimproved fashion the general method of effecting wrapping disclosed in the patent to Taggart' 2,025,913, dated December 31, 1935; The functions of these guards and the temporary engagementof thew-rap yarn'by the abutments for seizure by-the needles is conventional in the present machine and need-not befurth'er described.

pin 214 from the paths A bracket 233 supports a pin 33!] with its axis sloping upwardly in the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder, to which pin there is adjustably secured a member 332 provided with ears 304 and 303 into the latter of which there is threaded an adjustable abutment screw 338. The car 36 3 and the abutment screw 338 provide steps for an extension Sit of an element 3H! pivoted upon the pin 368, which element carries a placer arm Sid having a deflected end 3H3 extending in the direction oi motion of the needles. A spring M8 is housed within a cap 323 secured to the pin 330 and between this cap and the element 3) there is provided a spiral spring 3l3 serving normally to urge the element 3W into engagement with the abutment screw 338. The element are pivotally carries in a hole 324 therein an arm 322, having the shape illustrated in the figures, which is urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 21 by a spring 323 into contact with a stop pin 323.

The operation of this device will be apparent from Figures 18, 19, and 20. As a wrap finger 3Z9, adapted to effect Wrapping at the first abutment,

approaches the wrapping position as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, it lower end moves outwardly under the action of cam 246 previously described, and in such movement, clears the arm 314, but engages the arm 322 which, as illustrated, is slightly beyond the arm 3E4 and.slightly above 'the same, when the elements are in theirrest positions. As rotation continues, the wrap finger swings the arm 322 in a clockwise direction (Figure 20) and, the spring 326 exerting a stronger tension than the spring 3H3, the'element 3!!) will rotate clockwise, the stop pin 328 initially remaining in engagement with the arm 3.22. The deflected end 3l6 of the arm 3| 4 is at such level that the wra yarn carried by the finger 329 will be engaged by the arm Sh'l above the end 3H3, and as the wrap finger rotates with the needle cylinder and moves outwardly, it will, by engagement with the forwardly deflected portion of the arm 322 cause a movement of the element 310 at such angular rate as to cause the point of engagernent of the yarn with the arm 3l4 to move faster than the adjacent needles in a forward direction. The result is that the yarn is swept to a position, in advance of the first rising needle which is to take it, to extend approximately radially across the needle cylinder, the deflected end 3H6 of arm 3M preventing any possibility of the yarns dropping below the level of the arm 3H1. Due to the sloping position of the pin 3% with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder, the end 3H5 of the yarn 3M also moves downwardly to insure definite positioning of the yarn in a path to cause it to engage the abutment 292. At substantially the moment the yarn first engages the abutment, the tail 3 12 of the element 3H] will engage the ear 334, so that clockwise movement of the element is arrested, whereupon the first raised needle of the group to be wrapped will engage the yarn, effecting the beginning of the wrapping operation in'conventional fashion. It will be evident that the placer 3M, in effect; does no more than insure that the yarn extends substantially radially across the needle circle rather than in the form of a backwardly extending chord from the yarn finger, which might reaway from the abutment pin 328 against the tension of the spring 323, the wrap finger ultimately clearing the arm 322, which 'will be snapped back by the spring 328, after which the spring 3l3 will return the placer elements to their original positions, this, however, following the afe engagement of ie yarn by the needles.

In Figures 23 and 24 there are illustrated devices cooperating with the sliders 28 to secure the proper positioning of needles for the transfer of loops from the dial needles to the cylinder needles at the end of the formation of a rib top. To securethis result, which will be described in greater detail later, the sliders 28 are differentiated, as indicated in these figures, by the fact that those associated with lowered cylinder needles which were not knitting in the formation of the rib are provided with vertical outer edges throughout their heights, as indicated at 281), while those, 28a, which are associated with needles which were knitting during the formation of the rib top have the upper portions of their outer edges cut away, as indicated at 333. A cam 332 pivoted on a fixed vertical pin 334 is located at such height as to line up with the cut away portions 338 of the sliders 28a, so that when moved inwardly beyond the normal outer position of the ends of the sliders 28b it will engage these sliders to move them inwardly, but will fail to engage and move inwardly any of the sliders 23a. An outwardly extending arm of the lever 332 is connected by means of a Bowden wire 336 and a spring 331 to an upright push rod of conventional character (not shown) actuated by a suitable cam on the main cam drum of the machine, the inward movement of the lever 332 being limited by abutment of an adjustable screw 333 with afixed post 349. A spring 339 normally holds thecam 332 retracted.

The cams provided to control the needles, and the pressers, needle jacks and pattern jacks associated therewith will be clear from the interior diagrammatic development of the cams illustrated in Figure 2 with respect to which the needles and their associated parts move toward the left as viewed in that figure. The cams adapted to act upon the needle butts are the top center cam 342, the forward stitch cam 344, the reverse stitch cam 3:36, the lower center cam 348, cams 353 and 352 and 352a, provided, respectively, to raise and lower the needles at the second wrap point, cams 354 and 356, respectively adapted to raise and lower the needles at the first wrap point, cams 353 and 335 for the control of long butt needles in the formation of heels and toes, and cams 345, 341, 353, 360 and 332 the functions of which will be described hereafter.

Arranged to act upon the butts of the presser jacks 24 are the cams 334, 366 and 368.

The cams adapted to act upon the butts 2i! of the needle jacks I8 are 314, 315, 316 and 318.

Cams 383, 384, 386 and 390 are provided for action upon the steps 6 and 8 of the pattern jacks t. A beveled upper edge 388 formed on the cam 336 is adapted to act upon the lower ends of certain of the pattern jacks to swing them inwardly as described hereafter. Cams 382 and 384s are arranged to act upon the butts I of the pattern jacks d. A group of cam levers conventicnalized as a series of cams 334, are arsult in its being missed by the needles and in its the arm 322, which, however, may now swing ranged for selective action uponthe butts ll] of the pattern jacks. Cams 392 and 393-a're provided to act upon the upper butts l3 of the pat- 1 tern jacks. Cams 380 and 384 are relieved as v is illustrated in Figure 2. A second cam, located in the region where stitches are drawn and indicated at 3'52 is also adapted to act upon the outer ends of the sliders 28, but this cam differs from cam 332 in having a sufhcient vertical extent to engage the outer ends of all of the sliders of both series 28a and 282).

A group of fingers for feeding the main yarns "to the needles is indicated at 361, these fingers being arranged to be moved into and out of action in conventional fashion.

' with reverse plating, these operations will be first described, with reference thereafter to the additional operations involved in the formation of a stocking. In view of the fact that in this machine its reverse plating operations are closely tied up with the wrapping operations, it will be simplest first to describe the operations involved in wrapping, assuming initially that reverse plating does not occur, i. e., such operations as would result from the withdrawal of cam 312 from position to engage the sliders 28. The description also will first be made without reference to shogging.

As the pattern jacks pass the cam 390, they will all be brought to a common level, their upper butts, as having been previously engaged by cam 392 to tilt their lower ends outwardly to present their pattern butts H! for selection by the selector cams 39 1, the positions of which are controlled by the various butts on the elements [9.6 carried by the trick wheel I94 in the usual fashion, as

described, for example, in my Patent 2,050,946, dated August 11, 1936. The needle jacks will at this time be engaged (through the butts l5 of the cleaning jacks, the presence of which will ini- 7 determined by the path between the cams 366 and 368, i. e., at their upper level.

The cams 394, which control the selection of the pattern jacks, are arranged to leave the pattern jacks which pass themwith their lower ends in three alternative positions, i. e. either in a fully outward position, in an intermediate position, or in a full inward position. Those jacks which are in the full outward position effect a rise of their associated needles at the first wrap point in position to take yarn thereat if yarn is presented by a yarn finger, or to effect ultimately, by reason of such rise, reverse plating, as will be hereafter described. Those jacks whose lower ends occupy an intermediate position serve to raise their associated needles at the second wrap point, or as hereafter described, to effect reverse plating on such needles. Those jacks the lower ends of which are in their innermost position will not cause their needles to rise at either of the wrap points, but will cause their needles to rise later for proper interlacing .of wrap yarns, as will be pointed out.

Considering first the actions resulting from those jacks the lower ends of which remain in outer position after passing the selecting cams 394, the lower step 8 of each such pattern jack 12 will engage and ride up the rise of cam 38!]. In riding upwardly, it will carry with it its needle jack it which, at this time, will be somewhat below its needle. The needle jack butt 29 will, by this action, be carried suficiently high to engage cam 314. The cam 314 in turn will now engage it to cause it to raise its needle sufiiciently to cause the needle butt to engage cam 354 to be raised thereover. The resulting level of the needle is that at which it is capable of taking a wrap yarn at the first abutment 292 if a wrap yarn is there presented to it. As the needle rises over cam 35%, the shoulder located above its butt will engage the lower end of its presser jack 2:2, to move this presser jack so that the projection 25 thereon will be raised past the inner end of its slider v28, which will yield outwardly against its retaining spring bands for this action, the final position of the presser being such that the slider 28 will engage the surface 21 thereof. After taking the wrap yarn, or after passing the position at which a wrap yarn could be taken, the needle butt will engage the cam 356 to be moved downwardly thereunder. Before the needle reengages its needle jack i8, the butt of the needle jack will engage the cam surface 375, whereby it will be moved slightly downwardly to be thereafter engaged by the needle as the needle butt approaches the bottom of the cam 356, the needle jack then being moved downwardly somewhat further. Ihis preliminary motion of the needle jack by cam surface 315 has no function in this operation, cam 315 being provided for a purpose hereafter described.

In the meanwhile, the pattern jack will have been moving over the top of cam 35%) at such level thatits butt I will engage the cam 382, which will serve to rock the jack inwardly so that both of its shoulders will clear the cam 388 and the subsequent cam 384. As a result, when the needle jack takes the final downward movement referred to above, the pattern jack will be moved slightly downwardly and will thereafter ride at the level thus determined until moved downwardly again by the needle jack.

The needle butts will now ride beneath the forward portion of the cam 350 and will be depressed slightly further by the'cam surf-ace 35! of the cam 35!], after passing the cam 358, which, at this time is withdrawn from action. In the movement down the surface 35], the needle will correspondingly lower the needle jack and the pattern jack. The needle butt will then clear the withdrawn cam 356, will be raised slightly by cam 348, will take yarn from one or more of the main yarn fingers 367 and will ride down stitch -cam.344 to draw a stitch. Thereafter it is raised successively by cams 3 35 and 341 to its original level. The needle jack butt will, prior to the needles reaching the position of the upper center cam, engage the cam 3'56 and then cam 318, which, during the knitting of the leg of a stocking, will occupy the full line position illustrated .in Figure 2. The cam 318 will move the needle step 8 will miss the cam 380, but its upper shoulder '6 will engage this cam and ride up the same. 

